DeKalb Post Office Records

Collection

Identifier: RHC-RC-021

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These records partially document the history of the DeKalb Post Office from 1888-1960. There are no records available for the earliest years of the office's existence (1849-1887). Financial records comprise a major series of the collection including postal account books (1888-1943), domestic money order cash books (1888-1938), and international money order cash books (1893-1920). Four letterpress books document the construction and furnishing of the post office building completed in 1906 at First Street and Lincoln Highway. Closely related materials are found in the postmaster's correspondence (1898-1913), the custodian's record book and correspondence (1906-1945), and in files on route changes and mail schedules.

Dates

created: 1888-1960
Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1967

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

The U.S. Post Office established a DeKalb branch on February 8, 1849. Russell Huntley, DeKalb's founder, served as the first postmaster for five years. In 1900 DeKalb became a second class post office, and by 1922, with revenue generated by the American Steel and Wire Company's print shop and advertising department, it achieved first class status. City delivery began in 1899 with a staff of three letter carriers and one substitute. In 1900 DeKalb instituted Rural Free Delivery only four years after the U.S. Post Office began RFD. Service increased again in 1912 with the addition of parcel post. In 1959 DeKalb added a Highway Post Office to handle mail between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa with stops in Oak Park, DeKalb, Rochelle, Dixon, Sterling, Rock Falls, and Morrison. A mobile unit sorted mail while in transit to communities on its routes. Authorized by the federal government in 1940, there were 150 similar highway routes throughout the country by 1959. Today, the Postal Service trucks mail from post offices to regional centers which redistribute it by varying modes of transportation. The DeKalb Post Office has occupied seven different locations since 1849. Prior to 1906, it shared buildings that housed other businesses. Due to inadequate storage space and increased services, a new building, specifically designed for the post office, was erected at First Street and Lincoln Highway. The Post Office built again in 1960 at 330 Grove. Finally, it moved to its current location, 600 E. Lincoln Highway, in 1975. The post office built in 1906 was razed in June 1995.

Note written by

Extent

4.50 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Source of Acquisition

Mrs. Mattie Welch Embree

Method of Acquisition

Waite Embree, a local DeKalb historian, acquired the DeKalb Post Office records in the early 1960's. Mrs. Mattie Welch Embree donated the Embree Collection, including the Post Office materials, to the University Archives in 1967. J. Joseph Bauxar, University Archivist, transferred the Embree Collection to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center in June 1978.

Related Materials

Researchers should note that historical information may be found in the 1960 Post Office Dedication booklet written by Waite W. Embree (Box 5, Folder 9).